Comprised of Emma Baker, Owen Wuerker, Genevieve Ludwig and Chris Taylor, Big Hush trade in their usual blissed-out shoegaze fuzz for a slightly more subtle approach to the sludgey classic. Bassist Chris Taylor (also a member of Pygmy Lush) elaborates:

“I wrote the skeleton on each of pygmylush’s [Nirvana cover] songs and this big hush song, brought them in and let the ensemble of both bands color it how they saw fit. I always approach Nirvana covers as a re-write, I’m not that talented as a player so I always try to dumb them down a bit so I can play and sing them at the same time, what happens after that is a by product of the amazingly talented musicians I keep company with.

Every member of big hush is a songbird, they can all sing incredibly well, and immediately have a catalog of harmonies to choose from, Genevieve and Emma make the scale and dynamic grand, Owen can play literally every instrument very well, and in fact he rewrote the basic riff I gave him to give it texture, on this recording he plays every instrument, organ, acoustic, bass, shaker, tambourine, and we recorded this version in one day.

Sifting was an interesting song to approach this way, it’s basically a kinda metal Melvins kinda thing, so we pretty much followed the structure and not the notes, and just tried to make it dreamy.”

“Big Hush’s principal affinities with dream-pop [are] the blurry quality of its vocals and the way its steel-wool guitars scrubbed the other elements… While Big Hush is still defining its style, it’s already moved beyond predictable genre tags.”

Completing a trifecta of tributes to Nirvana‘s studio albums by Robotic Empire, on this third full-LP homage, “Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach”, Big Hush‘s cover joins a diverse array of others from the likes of Basement, Beach Slang, Circa Survive, Daughters, Defeater, The Fall of Troy, Mean Jeans, Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place, The Saddest Landscape, This Will Destroy You, Thou and Young Widows.

“Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach” is available on vinyl and digitally this Saturday, April 16th. The vinyl is arriving now at stores for Record Store Day, and the digital release is also available for pre-order with tracks by Big Hush, Basement, Circa Survive and This Will Destroy You unlocked within for immediate download:

“The framework for “Paper Cuts” was a welcomed challenge to work on as the track is already doomy and repetive. Going slow and low seemed to be the way to put our own stamp on the cover while maintaining the rawness and intensity of the original.”

The cover is part of Robotic Empire’s third Nirvana tribute LP, completing a trifecta of homages to the legendary grunge band’s studio albums. “Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach” is being released in conjunction with Record Store Day, akin to predecessors “Whatever Nevermind” (2015) and “In Utero: In Tribute” (2014).

“Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach” will be available on both vinyl and digitally come Saturday, April 16th. The physical release is en route to stores for Record Store Day, and the digital release is available for pre-order now:

Digital pre-orders (aside from Google Play) include immediate downloads of the This Will Destroy You track, along with previously streamed covers from Basement and Circa Survive, premiering over the last few weeks via The AV Club and Alternative Press respectively:

Utilizing their renown sound of heavy yet melodic hardcore/alternative rock, Basement opts for a somewhat traditional rendition of the frustrated anthem. On their approach to the song, vocalist Andrew Fisher elaborates:

“We picked ‘School’ because it’s really heavy and so simple but so good. It has two parts the whole way through. Just goes to show how dynamics can make a song interesting. Whenever we play it I wish we wrote it because it’s that good.

We flirted with the idea of trying to make it ‘our own’ and change it, but because the song is so simple everything we came up with sounded forced and wrong. Instead we thought we’d try our best to do the song justice and so recorded it live and tried to keep it as true to the original as possible. I think it came out pretty cool”

The track is found on Robotic Empire’s third tribute to Nirvana‘s legendary studio albums. “Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach” completes a trifecta, with the classic debut album “Bleach” covered in full by 13 diverse artists (including Basement, Beach Slang, Big Hush, Circa Survive, Daughters, Defeater, The Fall of Troy, Mean Jeans, Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place, The Saddest Landscape, This Will Destroy You, Thou and Young Widows) and set for release on Saturday, April 16th (Record Store Day) on both vinyl, and digitally.

Digital pre-orders of the album are up now, with “School” available immediately:

We are extremely stoked to announce our third Nirvana tribute LP, “Doused In Mud, Soaked In Bleach”, completing a trifecta of homages to the legendary band’s official studio albums.

The Hall of Famer’s debut LP “Bleach” is covered in full, start to finish, by a diverse range of independent/alternative artists including Basement, Beach Slang, Big Hush, Circa Survive, Daughters, Defeater, The Fall of Troy, Mean Jeans, Rob Crow’s Gloomy Place, The Saddest Landscape, This Will Destroy You, Thou and Young Widows.

Appropriately reflecting Nirvana‘s rawest studio album alongside a full-circle nod to our root genres, this is arguably the darkest, heaviest release in the tribute series. A tasteful re-envision of these classic songs sees all 13 “Bleach” tracks run through the bands’ creative engines, putting an intense new perspective on these 25+ year old songs.

Today, Circa Survive premiers their cover of ‘Love Buzz’, originally written/performed by Shocking Blue but made infamous by Nirvana. Alternative Press is streaming the song now along with a brief Q&A with the band:

On their method of covering a cover, Brendan Ekstrom from Circa Survive says:

“It’s hard to explain but in my mind ‘Love Buzz’ is a Nirvana song. It’s one of the first songs that I obsessed over when I was 14 years old and was learning to play guitar. At the time, I thought Nirvana wrote it. It just fit so well with the rest of the record…. I didn’t need to listen to the originals when the band who was making me believe in music had their own amazing version for me to listen to.”

Circa Survive is one of three reoccurring bands who’ve contributed to all of the Nirvana tribute LPs Robotic Empire’s issued, including 2015’s “Whatever Nevermind” and 2014’s “In Utero: In Tribute”. Like both previous tributes, the vinyl edition of “Doused In Mud, Soaked In Bleach” is being released in conjunction with Record Store Day, occurring on Saturday, April 16th this year.

The Record Store Day edition exclusive metallic-silver vinyl color and includes a bonus oversized poster, with standard editions (sans poster) to follow RSD via our Online Store. All copies include a high-quality digital download of the full release.

The album will also be released digitally across all major platforms on Saturday, April 16th, with iTunes and Bandcamp pre-orders live now, including an immediate download of the Circa Survive cover for pre-orderers:

Fully “Black Friday” indulgent, we’re going berzerk by offering 25% off ALL orders over 25 bucks (using the coupon code “ROBOBLACKFRIDAY” at checkout) PLUS throwing in a free record with every discounted order! Beyond that, we’re giving away free shirts to all $50+ orders, have listed 150+ items on a heavy discount and nearly 20 newly-added/lost/found/and/or exclusive items to offer up as well. In other words, it’s massive over at the Robotic Empire – Online Store.

The full lists of discounted and new/re-upped titles can be found below, but we also want to highlight a few things of note. The cult fave Grateful Dead x Misfits – Steal Yr Skull image returns, now emblazoned into a soft enamel pin! With raised dyed-black metal contrasting the brilliant white enamel, this 1.25″ circular pin is limited to just 100 pieces. If it’s anything like the t-shirts were, we imagine the pins we scored will go quickly. Available now in our Online Store.

Robo-related, a distributor return of our Whatever NevermindNirvana tribute LP has surfaced, with copies of the Record Store Day edition of that sold-out title now briefly available in our Online Store. 12″+7″ both on translucent blue vinyl with an oversized poster, this second in our full-album Nirvana tribute series features reworked renditions of the entire Nevermind album by YOUNG WIDOWS, TORCHE, KYLESA, CAVE IN, BORIS, LA DISPUTE, WHITE REAPER, CIRCA SURVIVE, TOUCHE AMORE, WRONG, PYGMY LUSH, NOTHING and THOU, in that order.

Fairly-Robo-related is the recent import of HENRYSPENNCER‘s lastest album, Saturn, for which Robotic Empire released the digital version of. Two years in the making, France’s Henryspenncer have crafted a dense album with Saturn, torn between cosmos, desert and concrete; both narrative and abstract, gloomy and luminous, the psych/folk/drone mix contained within is simply incredible. An album teaser has been launched on our YouTube channel over yonder.

Recorded at Holy Mountain Studios in London, engineered and mixed by Misha Hering, mastered by James Plotkin and with artwork by Valentin Féron, Saturn is now available as an import LP in our Online Store, and via all major digital outlets:

Lastly-Robo-related is a small but strong test press offerings exclusive to our Black Friday sale, with some classics and other rarities on offer only in our Online Store. Quantities are extremely limited so get in there quick if yas interested!

Beyond all that cool stuff, we’ve also scored some killer new domestic and import vinyl from the likes of BEACH SLANG (!), COLISEUM, CRIPPLE BASTARDS, FUNERAL MOTH, NADJA, WILL HAVEN and a killer cassette comp from Land Animal records, along with some other tasty bangers:

In addition to all orders over $25 receiving 25% off with the “ROBOBLACKFRIDAY” coupon code, we’ve also done a massive deep-discount session to over 150 titles in the Robotic Empire – Online Store. There is stuff from just about every genre under the sun here, so this is a great time to take a chance on something new – as the coupon code DOES apply to the titles below as well. Here’s the insane full list:

Wow! Remember, orders over $25 use the “ROBOBLACKFRIDAY” coupon code for the 25% off discount + a free record of our choice. All orders over $50, be sure to also include your t-shirt size in the ‘notes’ section of checkout!

This insane sale runs through the weekend, so feel free to let folks who might be interested know. We rely almost entirely on word-of-mouth and online activity, so we genuinely appreciate all the folks who spread the word!

Lot’s of heavy hitters for the update that will close out the month of August, including some old rarities and warehouse finds. There’s a killer new 8″ split from Ampere and Raein, we’ve picked up more releases from Coliseum and are stoked to have some Creepoid albums in the store finally.

New Thrill Jockey releases from Evan Caminiti and the recently re-vamped Holy Sons (now feat. members of Ancient Sky), then some colored wax from Planes Mistaken For Stars (one of which is an out of print version!). Sed Non Satiata albums and the new Tideland cassettes were sent in from Protagonist Records, and a solid selection of releases from Orca Wolf Records including the Self-TitledUsnea album.

Be sure to give a listen to some of the Dullest Records releases we have in stock at the moment, they have some good prices on quality 2×12″s. Glance through the mega restocks from the mighty Deathwish Inc too! All these can be found in the Robotic Empire Online Store

On the T-Shirt front we are excited to have printed up some SHIRTS! for WRONG to support their upcoming September tour w/ Black Tusk and Lazer/Wulf! Make sure you get out to see these bludgeoning fellows or plan on royal regrets… A repress of their 4 song 12″ EP on Robotic Empire is currently finishing up at the plant and we should have them in house mid September.

If you missed out on the killer Grateful Dead / Misfits mind meld shirts we scored last year here’s your chance to grab one now. Limited quantities on these dark grey versions and we’re pretty sure this is the last time you’ll see them in the shop.

Do you like sexy warrior ladies? What if that lady is brandishing a spear? Well we’re into it! That’s why we’ve got a new Robotic Empire T-shirt sporting that exact image. Designed by your very own mailorder packer Josie (who we wouldn’t put it past to swing around a spear of her own), these come on grey shirts with a metallic gold ink. Don’t miss out, these Robo shirts generally go quick and we rarely repeat the same design twice. Collector’s items? Maybe!?!?

Oh yeah, and for anyone who still thinks Robotic Empire is based in Richmond, VA we’d like to explain how that hasn’t been the case for quite some time. Why are we even bringing this up? Well, to point out the fact that Robotic Empire is actually set up in the mountains of north east Washington state which is currently burning the hell up! Considering the killer update we have for you this week you best act fast if you see something you like, who the heck knows if it’ll all go up in smoke this time next week (see the smokey sunset photos below). So get on it!

While we’ve been wondering if our straw house warehouse (yup we said STRAW) will incinerate this month we occupied ourselves with stuccoing, liming, painting, rearranging, and resetting up the warehouse. Anytime the warehouse gets organized we’re sure to find some odds and ends… and so we have! Check the Warehouse Finds list below and grab some obscure/rare goodies. To be even more crazy, we’re going through the entire distro catalog and running what we’ll call the Alphabet Sales from now into September and maybe even into October until we’ve gone from A to Z. Massive price drops on lots of good music. We just want to freshen things up and make more room so take advantage. Phew, aren’t ya’ll lucky…. Full lists below!

That’s all for August and if you’d be so kind, think RAIN, lot’s of RAIN. Raindance to the gods, Pray to Jah or do whatever else you can to kindly send RAIN thoughts our way! In the meantime we’ll keep enjoying the smokey sunsets.
Thanks everyone! – Robotic Empire Online Store

The Archivist and Robotic Empire are happy to announce the next round of digital releases newly available across the main download+streaming services (iTunes/Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Bandcamp, etc). A dozen more albums and EPs are live now:

* Cloacal Kiss – Easter (originally released by Arclight Communications in 2002, members of The Sawtooth Grin and Virulence)
* Employer, Employee – Discography (combines the late 90’s early-00’s sic[sic] album and Mother Spain 7″, all physical editions and 2010 discography now out of print)
* Forstella Ford – Quietus (originally released by Level Plane in 2001)
* Forstella Ford – Retrospective (17 track collection release, originally released by Level Plane in 2003)
* Forstella Ford – Well Versed in Deception (their final album, originally released by One Day Savior in 2003)
* Harkonen – Harkonen (their debut album, originally released by Wreck Age in 1999. pre-Helms Alee)
* Hassan I Sabbah – Hassan I Sabbah EP (originally released as a limited 7″ by Robodog Records in 2000)
* Lickgoldensky – Lickgoldensky (their final album, originally released by Level Plane in 2004)
* Love Lost But Not Forgotten – Love Lost But Not Forgotten (originally released by Happy Couples Never Last in 2000)
* Love Lost But Not Forgotten – Upon the Right, I Saw a New Misery (originally released by Happy Couples Never Last in 2002)
* The Now – The Now EP (Neil Perry/Joshua Fit For Battle side project, originally released by Robodog/Robotic Empire in 2001)
* Various Artists – Drum Machine Madness EP (Grind comp w/ Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Wadge, Nemo, Pilgrim Fetus and Alien Crucifixion, originally released by Robodog/Robotic Empire in 2003)

In addition to these 12 classic out of print titles now made available widespread, Robotic Empire is excited to announce digital pre-orders for Tideland‘s latest album, Love Luster:

Set for release on Friday, August 21st, Tideland’s Love Luster sees these Virginian masters of grungepunkalternativerock in their finest (half)hour. Album pre-orders include immediate download of the hypnotic opening downer “All I Know” (recently premiered via Noisey/Vice), along with the catchy upbeat banger “Let Me In”.

A lengthy list of direct links to this latest round of 12 releases can be found below, and you can follow The Archivist direct via Facebook, Bandcamp and/or our newsletter to find out about future releases:

The first 15 digital releases from The Archivist launched less than 6 months ago as a method to make widespread availability of influential and inspiring music that may not otherwise reach fans worldwide. This included material from City of Caterpillar, Forcefedglass (mem Converge), Idolands (mem Daughters), Joshua Fit For Battle, Majority Rule, Riddle of Steel (pre-Tilts/Torche), Transistor Transistor, Welcome The Plague Year and Wraith (Capsule/Wrong/ex-Kylesa member Eric Hernandez side project).

The initial announcement and full list of those releases along with all relevant links can be found here:

A small but powerful update to the Robotic Empire – Online Store this round, with some burly new titles freshly in house: new releases from HOLLOW SUNSHINE, THOU, and ROSETTA and more! Also a great new release from North Carolina band BASK which we’ve been jammin’ pretty hard lately, check them out if you enjoy bands along the lines of ANCIENT SKY & ACROSS TUNDRAS. Worth re-highlighting too is the bangin’ new ANCIENT SKY – Mosaic tapes in the online store NOW:Mosaic Tapes!

Hope everyone got the time they needed to take advantage of the T-shirt sale we ran last month, thanks for picking up some new threads and helping us make room for new designs coming into the shop in the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for a new digs from WRONG and a flash new ROBOTIC EMPIRE label shirt as well!

THOU has just smashed some killer shows with FALSE and have more great shows lined up for October with THE BODY, so we’ve decided to put both The Sacrifice & Baton Rouge 12″s on sale to give everyone the chance to pick up those amazing mega-EPs if you haven’t already. You can find those here Thou Sale! along with their new split with GREAT FALLS.

Here’s the complete list of everything new to the shop this round plus a list below from our previous update in July: